After using both Shapewriter and Swype, I prefer Swype. I wish some of the features from Shapewriter were there like the function button that allowed you to enter commands. Overall though, I just feel that Swype is more intuitive for what you're typing whereas Shapewriter requires much more precision.

As for the relative advantages of Shapewriter vs. Swype, I've been using Shapewriter for weeks and Swype for under ten minutes, but I already see one major difference: Swype's keyboard resizes in landscape mode, while Shapewriter's doesn't. The larger keys in Swype's landscape mode have already dramatically improved my speed and accuracy.

The lack of an expanded landscape mode has actually been my only complaint about the otherwise excellent Shapewriter so far; hopefully they'll add it in an update down the road. For now, though, it looks like I'll be switching.

I have just been shown Swype and I am having trouble downloading it. I got to the swype website and it says the Beta is closed. I downloaded it from some other website, saw it on my phone, the keyboard came up but it wouldn't function. Is there any way to download this now? It looks really cool. Oh, and I can't find "shapewriter" in the Android market anywhere.

I have just been shown Swype and I am having trouble downloading it. I got to the swype website and it says the Beta is closed. I downloaded it from some other website, saw it on my phone, the keyboard came up but it wouldn't function. Is there any way to download this now? It looks really cool. Oh, and I can't find "shapewriter" in the Android market anywhere.

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Shapewriter is gone, for now. The beta for swype should be open, did you sign up?